THE HAMPSHIRE ROSE

From 1975 - 1990, The Hampshire Rose was the on service lifeboat at Walmer RNLI Lifeboat Station. During her time at Walmer, she was launched on service 132 times, saving 57 lives and aiding many more.

Following her years saving lives at sea on the Kent coast, The Hampshire Rose then went into the RNLI relief fleet until 1992. From March to November 1991, she was on relief at Anstruther in Scotland, during which time she launched on service eight times. In December 1991 she began a six month relief period at Swanage, Dorset. At Swanage, The Hampshire Rose was launched six times, saving two lives.

After her time at Swanage RNLI, The Hampshire Rose returned to the RNLI Headquarters in Poole, where she was refreshed and refurbished in preparation for being sold out of the fleet. Towards the latter part of 1992, this sale went through, and she began her time as a privately owned charter vessel.

Almost exactly 20 years later, in October 2012, Stuart purchased her and had her brought by road to her new home in Ilfracombe, where she was settled onto her winter home in the car park. Extensive work was then done, including replacing the rear deck, removing all the old paint and repainting in her original lifeboat colours (as near as possible), ready for the beginning of the next summer season. The Hampshire Rose was lifted into the water on 23 March 2013 and her first sightseeing trip took place on 19 May 2013.

You can read all about the life of The Hampshire Rose in our book 'The Hampshire Rose Story', available to buy on board the lifeboat, or by contacting us.